I-90 Service Changes September 2018 Public Engagement Report

I-90 Service Changes Public Engagement Report King County Metro Transit

King County Department of Transportation Communications

February 2018

TrEE Additional Meeting Packet Page 1 March 6, 2018 I-90 Service Changes Public Engagement Report King County Metro Transit

Contents

Outreach Overview ………………………………..………………………………….……. 3 Background………………………………..……………………………………………..…… 3 Outreach Goals………………………………..………………………………………..…….. 3 Key Audiences………………………………..………………………………………..……… 4 Outreach Methods and Tools………………………………..…………………….……. 4 Summary of Comments Received………………………………..…………….……… 7 Equity and Social Justice………………………………..……………………….………. 9

Appendix A: Press release…….. …………………….………………..…………………….. 10 Appendix B: Stakeholder list ………………………………………………………………… 11 Appendix C: Online Open House. ……………………………………………………………. 13 Appendix D: Project website ………………………………………………………………….. 14 Appendix E: Fact Sheet …………………. …………………………………….……………. 15

TrEE Additional Meeting Packet Page 2 March 6, 2018 I-90 Service Changes Public Engagement Report King County Metro Transit Outreach Overview

King County Metro and Sound Transit partnered to provide early notification to transit users about the planned changes to service when construction begins for the Judkins Park light rail station in late 2018. The following report describes how we notified riders, the key messages in the communications, and the feedback that we received. Project Background

Construction of the new Judkins Park Link Station requires closure of the Rainier Freeway Station and the I-90 bus ramp that connects buses to the downtown tunnel and the ramp that enters/exits I-90 at the intersection at Seattle Blvd. S./5th Ave. S./S. Dearborn St. Most routes that currently serve the Rainier Freeway Station will bypass the area and no longer use the I-90 bus ramps that connects buses to the either the downtown tunnel or the intersection at Seattle Blvd. S./5th Ave. S./S. Dearborn St. beginning in September 2018. Service changes will be necessary to continue serving customers who use those routes to get to jobs, education, services and recreation around Seattle and the Eastside.

Since the Rainier Freeway Station provides important access to the Eastside and Downtown Seattle for communities in the Rainier Valley, Metro and Sound Transit determined that bus routes need to change when construction starts to maintain service to the Rainier Valley area. When East Link opens in 2023, the Rainier Freeway Station will re- open as the Judkins Park Station. Outreach Goals

To ensure minimal impact to the public as a result of major changes, it is crucial to inform them early of upcoming changes, so that both awareness and support are fostered. Early notification also allows time for messages to be shared and for people to plan alternatives to their normal routine. Strategic public outreach was planned and completed to ensure an equitable and effective engagement process and to set community expectations.

Outreach goals for I-90 service changes included:

• Meet riders “where they are” to increase awareness and participation. • Provide outreach opportunities that are accessible to ESJ populations especially people for whom English is a second language including refugees and immigrants, and other transit-dependent populations including low-income and disabled people. • Focus efforts on the Rainer Freeway Station closure to build awareness in potentially transit-dependent community. • Inform existing customers of the reasons for changes, timeline, constraints for options, and alternatives available.

TrEE Additional Meeting Packet Page 3 March 6, 2018 ge 3 ge I-90 Service Changes Public Engagement Report King County Metro Transit Key audiences

The outreach effort for I-90 service changes was bus focused, targeting riders who take Sound Transit and King County Metro buses that currently stop at the Rainier Freeway Station. This effort also prioritized riders who initiate travel from the Rainier Valley. This area is demographically diverse, including a higher minority make-up (51%) than the state (29%) and national (37%) averages. The community has high numbers of people who were born in another county and there are significant percentages of the populations form whom English is a second language.

Key audiences for this outreach effort include, but are not limited to: • Riders on Metro routes 7, 9, 106, 111, 114, 212, 214, 216, 217, 218 and 219; and Sound Transit routes 550 and 554. • Traditionally under-represented populations, and transit dependent people. • Neighborhood, social service agencies and organizations representing ESJ populations in the Rainier Valley

Outreach methods and tools

To help riders plan for changes to transit service, Metro partnered with Sound Transit for a “plan ahead” outreach effort that included drop-in sessions, notifications at transit stops and centers in the corridor, and a comprehensive online information center/open house. Through numerous notification methods, thousands of people across the corridor were notified of opportunities to engage. Over 5,500 people actively engaged with outreach staff during this time both in person or online.

The project outreach team used several public outreach and notification methods to maximize awareness of the project and invite the public to attend drop-in sessions and visit the online open house. The outreach methods included:

• In-person drop-in sessions and street team outreach • Online open house • Project website • Social media notifications and posts • Email updates • Advertisements including ethnic media • Press release and earned media • Community organization phone calls and tool kits

In-person outreach

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I-90 Service Changes Public Engagement Report King County Metro Transit

In total ten in-person events were held at eleven different transit centers between Seattle and Issaquah. Three of these in-person events were drop-in sessions held from 3:30 to 7:00 p.m. and the other seven events were street team events held between 2:30 and 6:00 p.m. to distribute flyers to bus riders who will experience service changes in September.

The drop-in sessions consisted of a pop-up booth at key transit centers with generalized project information and detailed maps showing bus routes that will experience service changes. Attendees were encouraged to share feedback and ask questions. During street team outreach, informational flyers were distributed to notify riders of the changes they can expect.

Translated fact sheets were available in Spanish, Somali, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Arabic, Russian, and Amharic.at these events.

Event Date Location

Street Team Tuesday, January 9 Eastgate Freeway Station

Street Team Wednesday, January 10 Issaquah Transit Center Street Team Thursday, January 11 Mercer Island Transit Center

Street Team Tuesday, January 16 Rainier Freeway Station

Street Team Wednesday, January 17 Bellevue Transit Center

Drop-in session Thursday, January 18 Issaquah Transit Center Drop-in session Tuesday, January 23 Bellevue Transit Center Street Team Wednesday, January 24 Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel – All stops Drop-in session Thursday, January 25 Rainier Freeway Station Street Team Tuesday, January 30 Issaquah Highlands Park and Ride

Online open house Riders and stakeholders could visit an online open house on their own time 24/7 to learn more information about service changes and what to expect when the Rainier Freeway Station closes. The Online Open House accepted comments from January 8 – February 16, 2018. The website will remain open through September in order to continue to provide customers with information about the service change and help them plan their journeys. The Online Open House is at https://i90servicechanges.participate.online/.

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Press release and earned media Metro and Sound Transit issued a joint news release, “Bus routes using I-90 to change in September due to East Link construction; riders encouraged to plan ahead,” on January 8, 2018 to announce bus service changes beginning in September 2018.

The project earned media attention from three sources. Media outlets that reported on or directly referenced the project and the online open house included local news television and community blogs focused on transportation and urban planning.

Seattle Transit Blog: https://seattletransitblog.com/2018/01/19/90-bus-routes- changing-september/

Sammamish Patch: https://patch.com/washington/sammamish/i-90-bus-routes- will-undergo-big-change-soon

Mercer Island Reporter: https://www.mi-reporter.com/news/metro-transit-needs- feedback-on-possible-route-changes-to-i-90-buses/

Online and print advertisements Display ads advertising in-person drop-in sessions and the online open house were published in eight daily, weekly or monthly print publications from early January to early February 2018. Online advertisements linking to the online open house also appeared in thirteen online newspapers from January to February 2018. Many of the print and online ads were translated in the primary language of the publications to better communicate the project information and public engagement opportunities.

Community stakeholder phone calls, emails, and tool kit Metro and Sound Transit targeted 60 stakeholder organizations and agencies to reach out to about I-90 service changes. Stakeholders were contacted by phone and through email. They were also sent a tool kit with translated resources to help them easily distribute information about service changes to the communities they serve.

Project website Public announcement of the service changes coming to buses that travel on I-90 and the invitation to the in-person drop-in sessions and online open house were posted on the project website (soundtransit.org/i90buschanges) eleven days prior to the first drop- in session. Translated information was available in Spanish, Somali, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Arabic, Russian, and Amharic.

Metro Matters Blog

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Metro posted on the blog on January 9, 2018 notifying readers about the upcoming change and upcoming opportunities to learn more and provide comments through in- person and online outreach.

Social media notifications and posts Social media announcements on Metro and Sound Transit Facebook and Twitter pages publicized the upcoming I-90 service changes and public engagement activities. Posts on informed followers of upcoming bus changes and directed them to the online open house for more information.

The notifications received 3,256 clicks and engagements from nearly 108,400 impressions. The feeds also included direct links to the online open house, where online visitors reviewed information about service changes and provided their feedback. They were also provided the opportunity to sign up for an email subscription for future project updates.

Electronic notifications Metro sent electronic updates (emails and text messages) to approximately 7,300 people who subscribe to receive updates about the routes included in this project. Sound Transit sent an electronic East Link Extension project update to the project listserv of approximately 3,445 recipients, to their All Aboard Commute Trip Reduction Newsletter which was sent to a listserv of (approximately 104 recipients) on January 18, 2018. Lastly, an announcement about the SIP amendment being published online was sent to the service planning listserv of approximately 2800 recipients.

Translated Fact Sheets Co-branded, translated fact sheets were available in Spanish, Somali, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Arabic, Russian, and Amharic. They were passed out at in-person events, distributed to community stakeholders, and available on line.

Operator and Customer Service communications Metro operators were notified about the change through the Operations Bulletin and Metro customer information staff were provided with project information. As front line staff frequently interacting with the public it was important that they be able to answer questions and provide accurate information.

Summary of Comments received

A total of 77 narrative comments were received during the online open house and 25 narrative comments were received in response to Facebook advertisements. Staff also

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TrEE Additional Meeting Packet Page 7 March 6, 2018 I-90 Service Changes Public Engagement Report King County Metro Transit took note of questions and comments they received during in-person events. Overall, themes heard across the corridor included:

Familiarity with the project

• During outreach riders commented that they’d already heard about bus service changes. • Appreciation for having information well in advance of September changes and understanding of service changes coming.

Bus frequency

• Request for increase in the number of buses traveling from the Rainier Valley to the Eastside during peak hours. • Concern that there are not enough 554 buses. • Concern about the increase in travel time for surface street buses. • Expressed need to prioritize access for buses entering and exiting I-90. • Appreciation for not making too many drastic changes to the 212 or the 550.

Outreach and information availability • Questions about how the 550 bus route will access the I-90 tunnel. • Call for Metro and Sound Transit to send out more information. • Appreciation for having information about upcoming changes well in advance of September changes. • Interest in how the project will impact the I-90 bike trail.

Access to Rainier Freeway Station • Expressed need to clarify the timeline of the Rainier Freeway Station closure. • Concern that the 550 will no longer stop in the Rainier Valley, the perspective being that most people who catch the bus at the Rainier Freeway Station ride the 550 bus. • Concern about access to bus stops at Rainier Avenue S and S Charles St. due to steep hills, uneven sidewalks and dangerous crosswalks.

Origin of comments • Over half of all written feedback came from bus route 550 and 554 riders. • Additional written feedback came from King County Metro routes 111, 114, 212, 214, 216, 217, 218 and 219 riders. • Most feedback came from people who ride a bus impacted by service changes and/or who are interested in the East Link project. 8

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• The majority of people who submitted feedback understood how their bus route will change based on the materials provided in the online open house.

Equity and Social Justice

With the Rainier Freeways Station closing, Metro and Sound Transit focused outreach on riders who use this stop to travel to the Eastside and downtown Seattle, or as a connection point to routes on Rainier Ave to other locations. Outreach was focused on making the information accessible to ESJ populations and through in-language notifications and information in the following ways:

• Translated fact sheets were available online and at in-person events in Spanish, Somali, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Arabic, Russian, and Amharic.

• Community based organizations and agencies serving ESJ populations were provided with a tool kit of information including translated fact sheets, a matrix of changes by routes, and a cut-and-paste email message to send to their constituents.

• Translated advertisements in ethnic media publications advertising the outreach

• Prioritized the Rainier Freeway Station for in-person outreach events which included both a drop-in session and street teams at the Freeway stops and on the surface level on Rainier Ave.

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Appendices Appendix A: Press Release Bus routes using I-90 to change in September due to East Link construction; riders encouraged to plan ahead

Jan 8, 2018

Sound Transit and King County Metro begin public outreach to educate riders about upcoming changes Sound Transit and King County Metro today kicked off a month of public outreach to inform Eastside bus commuters and people who ride buses that stop at the Rainier Freeway Station about changes to their routes starting September 2018 as a result of East Link construction. Opportunities to learn about the changes include an online open house and in-person drop-in sessions throughout the month of January. Current Rainier Freeway Station bus stops are located over Rainier Avenue alongside I- 90 in each direction. Buses pull to the side to serve the stops and then continue along I- 90 without having to exit the freeway. These stops will be closed as part of the construction of the East Link light rail extension, and will become the Judkins Park Station when East Link begins operating in 2023. During construction the following routes will be affected:

• Sound Transit routes 550 and 554 • King County Metro routes 111, 114, 212, 214, 216, 217, 218 and 219

While these routes will continue to serve downtown Seattle, they will either bypass the Rainer Freeway Station or serve stops at different locations on Rainier Avenue. Routes that serve Rainier Avenue from the Eastside will exit I-90 at Rainier, and continue downtown via surface streets. There will be no changes to bus routing on the Eastside.

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I-90 Service Changes Public Engagement Report King County Metro Transit

Riders are encouraged to learn about changes to their routes early and to plan ahead for impacts to their routines. Details are available through the online open house at https://i90servicechanges.participate.online/. Additionally, drop-in sessions are scheduled at the Issaquah Transit Center on Jan. 18; the Bellevue Transit Center on Jan. 23; and the Rainier Freeway station on Jan. 25. All drop-in sessions run from 3:30 – 7 p.m. Sound Transit and King County Metro representatives will be available to provide information and answer questions. Details about these sessions are available on the open house website. Sound Transit is simultaneously working to extend light rail northward, southward and eastward, opening new stations every few years to form a 116-mile regional system by 2041. Other upcoming transit expansions include the 2024 launch of bus rapid transit on I-405 and SR-522, major expansions to Sounder south line service that include longer platforms and trains, and service extensions to Joint Base Lewis-McChord and DuPont. Information on upcoming Sound Transit system expansions is available at https://www.soundtransit.org/Projects-and-Plans/system-expansion.

Appendix B: Stakeholder List Stakeholders City of Bellevue City of Issaquah City of Mercer Island City of Sammamish Community Transit Pierce Transit SDOT TransManage Cascade Bicycle Club Lighthouse for the Blind Feet First ACRS American Red Cross Bellevue College Casa Latina Chinatown-International District Business Improvement Area (CIDBIA) Commute Seattle Friends of Little Saigon Hiawatha BD Interim Community Development Association

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International District/ Chinatown Community Center Judkins Park Community Council NW African American Museum NW African American Museum Rainier Valley Food Bank Seattle Chinatown International District Preservation and Development Authority (SCIDpda) Southeast District Council T-Mobile T-Mobile 23rd Ave Action Community Team BikeWorks Center Park (SHA residence) Central Area Neighborhoods District Council Chong Wa Benevolent Association Columbia Branch Library East African Community Services Ethiopian Community Center Filipino Community Center Got Green Horn of Africa Services Muslim Housing Services El Centro de la Raza Puget Sound Sage SHA Rainier Vista Rainier Beach Community Empoerment Coalition Holly Park Medical & Dental Clinic MLK Business Association Rainier Vista - Boys and Girls Club Southeast Youth and Family Services Vietnamese American Economic Development Association Refugee Women's Aliance Hopelink Rainier Beach Community Center Rainier Beach Merchants Association Rainier Chamber of Commerce Rainier Neighborhood Greenways

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Rainier Valley Community Development Fund Rainier Valley Historical Society Somali Community Services of Seattle Southeast Effective Development (SEED)

Appendix C: Online Open House

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Appendix D: Project Website

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Appendix E: Fact Sheets

Translated in Spanish, Somali, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Arabic, Russian, and Amharic. (available upon request)

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TrEE Additional Meeting Packet Page 16 March 6, 2018 September 2018 Service Change Proposal

King County Council TrEE Committee March 6, 2017

TrEE Additional Meeting Packet Page 17 March 6, 2018 September 2018 Service Change Ordinance

. Complete third of three phases of investment in 2017-18 to address underserved corridors in King County according to Metro’s Service Guidelines; also known as Priority 3 improvements

. Revise routes serving Rainier Freeway Station on I-90 due to permanent closures for East Link Light Rail construction

TrEE Additional Meeting Packet Page 18 March 6, 2018 DRAFT 2 Target Service Level Improvements

. Service Guidelines prioritize improvements based on Geographic Value, Social Equity, and Productivity . September 2018 is final phase of investment outlined in Metro’s 2017-18 budget . September 2017: 30,900 annual hours . March 2018: 46,700 annual hours . September 2018: 29,700 annual hours

TrEE Additional Meeting Packet Page 19 March 6, 2018 3 Target Service Level Improvements

Route 240 serving Bellevue, Newcastle & Renton . Add weekday peak service every 15 minutes . Improve Sunday and evening service to every 30 minutes (In March 2018)

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Route 373 serving Aurora Village, Shoreline, Jackson Park and the University District . Expand service between Aurora Village and Jackson Park by replacing current Route 73 peak period trips with Route 373 trips . Add one earlier morning Route 373 trip

Complementary Administrative Changes . Target service level additions are planned for routes 5/5X, 31/32, 150, 180, 181, 245, 345 and the F Line

TrEE Additional Meeting Packet Page 21 March 6, 2018 5 Rainier Freeway Station & D2 closure Closures require changes to routes 111, 114, 212, 214, 216, 217, 218; also Sound Transit routes 550, 554

“D-2” transit-only roadway closes Rainier Freeway Station closes

Re-opens as East 2023 Link in 2023

TrEE Additional Meeting Packet Page 22 March 6, 2018 Rainier Freeway Station & D2 Closure

Development of proposed changes included: . Partnership with Sound Transit on planning, communications and public outreach . Communications and engagement with affected riders and communities . Analysis of Title VI populations and development of options to maintain connections

TrEE Additional Meeting Packet Page 23 March 6, 2018 7 Rainier Freeway Station & D2 Closure

Proposed ordinance changes will: . Revise most Metro service to bypass the former freeway station and travel to/from downtown Seattle via 4th Avenue Complementary administrative changes will: . Revise reverse-peak Metro service (to the Eastside in the AM, to Seattle in the PM) to travel to/from downtown Seattle via Rainier Ave and Dearborn St.

TrEE Additional Meeting Packet Page 24 March 6, 2018 8 Rainier Freeway Station & D2 Closure

TrEE Additional Meeting Packet Page 25 March 6, 2018 9 September 2018 Service Change Ordinance

Seeking approval of changes . Rainier Freeway Station/D2 Roadway - routes 111, 114, 212, 214, 216, 218 . Target Service Level Changes – routes 73, 373, 240

Service Change starts September 22, 2018

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